Minnesota Social Security Disability benefits can be awarded for Bipolar disorder. In fact, affective disorders, like Bipolar Disorder, are the fastest growing category of people who receive Social Security Disability benefits. According to Social Security, there are 4.7 million people who receive disability benefits, and about one out of every nine (500,000 people) has a primary diagnosis of an affective disorder such as Bipolar disorder.
What is Bipolar Disorder?
Bipolar disorder includes times of excitability (mania) switching to periods of depression. These mood swings can be very abrupt. Bipolar disorder is a mental illness that is very serious.
How can people with bipolar disorder qualify for MN disability benefits?
People with bipolar disorder can qualify for disability benefits if their bipolar disorder renders them unable to complete any substantial gainful activity for a full year. Some disability programs provide benefits to people with bipolar disorder who cannot work for shorter periods of time; however, Social Security Disability is very strict and requires that an individual not be able to work for a full year.
Tips for applying for disability benefits if you have bipolar disorder:
First, people who are applying for disability benefits should thoroughly complete all of the forms that Social Security requests. You can have help completing these forms.
Second, when completing the forms, people with bipolar disorder should emphasize their functional limitations. This means that you should describe how your bipolar disorder limits your everyday activities. Disability examiners, when determining whether you are disabled under Social Security's strict rules, look to see how you are able to communicate with others, follow through with tasks, concentrate, and other things that a person needs to do basic work.
Complications to being awarded bipolar disability benefits:
Some people with bipolar disorder will self-medicate with alcohol or drugs. If a person develops an addiction to alcohol or drugs and cannot work for that reason, Social Security will deny the disability claim. Social Security will state that without the alcohol or drug use, the individual would be able to work. Often times, this is not truethe alcohol or drug use is simply covering up the real problem affecting the person's ability to work. However, Social Security will not see this, and will not award disability benefits to a person they think is disabled because of drug or alcohol use.
Another hurdle to being awarded bipolar disability benefits is to complete all paperwork and attend all scheduled appointments. People who are suffering from severe depression or from a manic episode may miss a doctor appointment scheduled by Social Security. If this occurs, Social Security will not reschedule; they will simply deny the claim for disability benefits.
What to do if you are denied bipolar disability benefits:
If you are denied disability benefits, you should appeal. Often times, people are denied at the initial application level and then are awarded Minnesota disability benefits on appeal. A Minnesota disability lawyer can help explain the SSA appeals process and can represent you during your appeal and hearing.
